Page clip



March 12, 1957 G. T. WATSON PAGE CLIP Filed Jan. 18, 1954 INVHVTOR.Goeoou 7. IVATJON PAGE CLIP Gordon T. Watson, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application January 18, 1954, Serial No. 404,694

6 Claims. (Cl. 24--66) This invention relates to clips and moreparticularly to an improved clip for holding book pages in a relativelyflat position.

Various types of paper clips, clip boards, page markers, and so forthare well known in the art. None of these clips however are adapted toaccommodate anywhere from one to several hundred pages in a book andadequately secure these pages to one fly leaf of the book. Further,present day clips will not permit removal or insertion of one or morepages without having to expand and, in some instances, remove the clipeach time. There is a strong need accordingly for a clip free from theabove noted disadvantages, particularly in the case of field manuals orrecord books employed out of doors Where gusty winds tend to flap openpages in an annoying manner.

The present invention is primarily concerned with the provision of animproved clip for book pages which is economical to manufacture andassemble, easy to operate, and reliable.

More particularly, it is an object of the invention to provide a clipespecially suited for use with field manuals or books to be used out ofdoors and which is capable of accommodating a large or small number ofpages.

Still another object is to provide a clip which will not slip outinadvertently from the book and yet is easy to insert into position.

Another object is to provide a clip which will permit pages to be turnedand slipped under the clip or removed from under the clip without havingto expand the clip appreciably or remove the same.

Yet another object is to provide a clip of the above type which will notprotrude to any appreciable extent from the edges of the book whenplaced in position, whereby the clip may simultaneously serve as a bookmarker.

These and further objects and advantages of the present invention areattained by providing a clip having as its primary component, anL-shaped member. The

horizontal leg of this member is adapted to slip under the fly leaf ofthe book or manual or under the bottom few pages thereof, and thevertical leg is adapted to serve as a rest or back surface seatedagainst the edges of the pages to be clipped.

A clamping element is pivotally mounted intermediate its forward andrearward portions to the vertical leg of the L-shaped member. Thispivotal mounting is disposed a suflicient distance above the angle inthe L-shaped member so that a relatively large number of pages may beaccommodated under the clamping element. A resilient means is disposedbetween the rearward portion of the clamping element and the verticalleg of the L-shaped member whereby the forward portion of the element isurged against the horizontal leg. Rocking motion of the clamping membertakes place in the plane including the vertical and horizontal legs ofthe L-shaped member 2,784,470 Patented Mar. 12, 1957 andthe constructionis such that a considerable separation or gap between the clip jaws maybe effected.

The horizontal leg of the L-shaped member is provided along itslongitudinal edges with barbs, these barbs being directed away from thefree end of the horizontal leg. This arrangement permits the horizontalleg portion to be readily slipped under pages in a book but not easilyremoved unless the pressure of the clamping element is released.

Suitable finger grips for operating the clip are formed from integralportions of the vertical leg of the L-shaped member and the clampingelement respectively whereby simplicity and economy are realized in themanufacture of the clip. Preferably the extreme tip end of the forwardportion of the clamping element is turned upwardly in a smooth curvepermitting pages to be readily inserted thereunder. In this action, thepage edges themselves serve to expand the clamping element away from thehorizontal leg to accommodate the inserted pages.

A better understanding of preferred embodiments of the present inventionwill be had by referring to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a general perspective view illustrating a preferred manner ofusing the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the clip shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view partly in section of the clip of Fig. l inclosed position;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the clip in open position;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a clip similar to that shown in Figs.1-4 but embodying a modified type of pivotal mounting;

Fig. 6 is an elevational section of the clip shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a cross-section taken in the direction of the arrows 77 ofFig. 6;

' Fig. 8 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention;and,

Fig. 9 is a section taken in the direction of the arrows 99 of Fig. 8.

Referring to Fig. 1, there is shown a book or manual 10. Books of thisnature are oftentimes employed in the field for keeping records, makingout receipts, entering orders, and so forth, and are often exposed tothe elements rendering it difficult to adequately secure the pages in anopen position.

In accordance with the invention, there is provided an improved typeclip member, designated generally by the numeral 11, for holding downthe book pages 12. As will become clearer as the description proceeds,the clip member 11 is so designed that it is a simple matter to manuallyinsert further pages, such as the page 13, under the clip 11 withouthaving to remove the same. Similarly, it is easy to slide pages out fromunder the clip. 1 Fig. 2 illustrates an enlarged perspective view of theclip 11 Essentially this clip comprises an elongated base member 14,which may be tapered in width towards its free end if desired. 7 Theother end of the base member is bent upwardly to form a back member 15.Preferably the back member 15 extends upwardly at sub: stantially aright angle to the base member ld whereby a substantially L-shapedmember having vertical and horizontal legs results. p

Cooperating with this L-shaped member is' a clamp ing element 16 havinga rearward portion 17 of somewhat narrower dimensions to provide stopshoulders 18' and 19. This rearward narrowed'po'rtion 17'is adapted tofit loosely within a horizontal slot 20 in the back member 15, the slotbeing dimensioned to permit a rocking or a'pivotal motion of theclamping element 16 in the plane of the base and back members 14 and 15.l A resilient means, preferably in the form of a compressionrilosedslierein'but is tozbe accorded the full scope of the claims-,soas wto ,embrace any and all equivalent devices. fHaving describedourinvention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by LettersPatentis:

"1 A mechanical action for artificial limb joints comprising arelativelystationary member and a ratchet segment rotatably mounted on the member,alever rota- ,tabl-y mounted on the member with the rotational axisadjacent to'the circumference of the ratchet segment, a locking bar onsaid lever'having opposite curved faces positioned generallyperpendicular 'to the radius from the rotational .axis of the lever,said segment having a :series of spaced generally radiallyextending barreceiving notches with faces complementary to the respective 'faces ofthe bar'when in bar receiving position, said rotational axis'of thelever being' at a point adjacent a line "tangent to'an arc'aboutthe-axis of said segment struck through the centers of the faces'of saidnotch.

'2. "A mechanical action for artificial limb joints comprising arelatively stationary member and a ratchet segment-rotatably mounted onthemember on the axis of rotation of the joint, a lever rotatablymounted on the member with the rotational axis adjacent to and exteriorof the circumference of the ratchet segment, a locking baron said leverhaving opposite faces positioned generally perpendicular to the radiusfrom the rotational axis of the lever and the faces, saidsegment beingsubject to :a rotative load and having a series of spaced generally-radially extending bar receiving notches with faces complementary tothe respective faces of the bar when in bar receiving position,said-rotational axis ofthe lever being withinan angular distance of aline tangent to an are-about the axis of said segment struck through thecenters of the faces of said notch such that the component rofthe forceresulting from. application of a rotative load 'tendingto disengage thebar from the notch is less than vthe'frictional force on the respectivecontacting faces.

3. A mechanical action for artificial limb joints comprising arelatively stationary member and .a ratchet :segment-rotatably mountedon the member on the axis of rotation of the joint, -a lever rotatablymounted on the member with the rotational axis adjacent to and exteriorof the circumference of the ratchet segment, a locking bar on said leverhaving opposite arcuatefaces positioned generallyperpendicular to theradius from the rotational axis of the lever and the faces, said segmenthaving a ,series of spaced generally radially extending bar receivingnotches with arcuate faces complementary to the respective faces of thebar when at bar receiving position, said rotational axis of the leverbeing within an angular distance of five degreesinside of a line tangentto an are about the axis of said segment struck through the centers ofthe faces of said notch.

4. A mechanical action for artificial limb joints comprising arelatively stationary member and a ratchet segment rotatably mounted onthe member on the axis of rotation of the joint, a lever rotatablymounted on the member with the rotational axis adjacent to and exteriorof the circumference of the ratchet segment, a locking bar on said leverhaving opposite arcuate faces of radius of curvature determined by thedistance between the .rotational axis of the leverand the respectiveface, said segment having a series of spaced generally radiallyextending bar receiving notches with arcuate ffaces complementarytotherespective faces of'the bar, vsaid rotational axis ,oftheflever being at a ;point 'within ;an angular distance of 15 degrees'on either side "of 'a line tangent to an are centered atthe axis ofsaid segment'and through thevcenters ,of'thefaces of a notch i n'barengaging position, the faces 'of said notches having positions whereinsaid last; faces are in engagement substantially throughout theirareas'with the re spective faces of thebar when in bar'engagingposition. 1'

5. A mechanical action for; artificial limbjoints comprising apair ofmembers wherein one member is adapted for attachment to a natural limb,parallel plates on one of the members, the other ofsaid memberscomprising a tubular sleeve rotatably mountedon-said plates providingthereby an articulating joint for said action, a'ratchet'segmentfixed;on-said sleeve-having a series of'spacedgeneral ly radiallyextendingrnotches, alever pivotally mounted at acenter of rotationon'said one member, a locking bar fixed transversely on the lever, andan alternator connected between thevleverand ,one of said-membersadapted to releasably hold said'bar 'out'of notch engagementposition,said bar having opposite notch contacting facescurved in the samegeneral direction and saidrnotches having opposite curved bar engagingfaces complementary to and adapted to engage'the respective faces of:thebar when in bar engaginggposition.

6. A mechanical action for artificial limb joints comprising arelativelystationary member adapted for attachment ,to a natural limb,parallel plates on said member and'a tubular 'sleeve 'rotatably mountedon said plates providing thereby an articulating joint for said action,a ratchet segment fixed on said sleeve having a series of spacedgenerally radially extending notches, a lever pivotally mounted'ata'center of rotationon said member, a locking bar-fixed transversely onthe lever, a spring on said member normally urging said bar toward anotch engagement position, and an alternator connected between saidmember and the lever adapted to releasably hold said bar out of notchengagement position, said bar having opposite notch contacting faces ofarcuate form and of radius determined by the-distance between therespective face and said center of rotation of the lever, said notcheshaving opposite bar engaging faces of arcuate form complementary to andadapted to engage the respective faces of the bar when in bar engagingposition.

7. A ratchet resistant mechanical action for artificial limb jointscomprising a base, a ratchet segment rotatably mounted on the base and alocking bar having a pivotal mounting on said base, said locking barhaving opposite segment-engaging faces curved in the same generaldirection about the axis of said pivotal mounting, said segment having aseries of peripheral bar receiving notches with opposite facesrespectively complementary to the faces on said bar.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSGermany Feb. 11, 1918 said shoulders bearing against said other memberat opposite sides of said opening, one end of the clamping member beingmovable to a position of engagement with the other leg of said L-shapedmember, and spring means bearing against said one leg and the other endof said clamping member for biasing said one end of the clamping memberinto said position of engagement.

3. A clip for pages comprising: an L-shaped member, one leg of saidmember having an opening extending therethrough in the direction of theplane of the legs of the member, a clamping element having a narrowedend portion extending loosely through said opening in the direction ofsaid plane and shoulders abutting said one leg at opposite sides of saidopening whereby to pivotally mount the clamping element on the L-shapedmember for rocking motion in said plane, the other end of said clampingelement overlying the other leg of the member, and spring means bearingagainst said one leg and said narrowed end portion of the clampingelement for urging of each of said shoulders, a clamping element havingopenings iormed intermediate its ends for lossely receiving saidnarrowed terminal portion and projections Whereby to pivotally mount theclamping element on the member for rocking motion in the plane of thelegs of the member, one end of said clamping element overlying the otherleg of the member, and spring means bearing against the other end of theclamping element and said one leg for urging said one end of theclamping element into engagement with said other leg.

6. A clip according to claim 5 wherein said clamping element is formedwith a projecting tab, said one leg and said tab being adapted to beurged together for separating said one end of the clamping element andsaid other leg.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS109,563 Walton Nov. 22, 1870 327,440 Heysinger Sept. 29, 1885 469,237Fontan Feb. 23, 1892 472,247 Baker Apr. 5, 1892 728,414 Rhoads May 19,1903 942,641 Hesson Dec. 7, 1909 1,266,962 Lawlor May 21, 1918 1,653,465Montan Dec. 20, 1927 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,052,881 France n Sept. 30, 1953258 Sweden of 1886

